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Att'y: New charges won't change Ohio Amish defense

CLEVELAND (AP) — Attorneys for some defendants charged in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio say additional allegations won't change how they fight the charges.

An updated indictment filed in federal court in Cleveland added four defendants to bring the total to 16 and added allegations they tried to hide or destroy evidence including a bag of hair. It said ringleader Sam Mullet Sr. lied to federal agents about an October hair-cutting, considered deeply offensive in Amish culture.

Mullet has said he didn't order hair-cutting but didn't stop others from carrying it out to send a message other Amish should be ashamed of how they treated him and his community.